Thursday, August 04, 2005

Recycling Blog

PSA and Perfect Internet MomentThere is a website (www.freecycle.org) that is the hub for a ring of people who want to get rid of stuff, without throwing it away. I have used the local tentacle of this octopus, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFFN/, to get rid of monitors, computers, cell phones, children’s books, a television, and much more. It’s like a huge garage sale, except you give stuff away, no money involved. I got a plain pine five-by- three bookshelf for free.

You can also ask for things – moving boxes, packing material, and art supplies seem to be the most common requests.

I’m on the mailing list (I LIKE e-mail!), and most of the offers and requests are pretty mundane, i.e. OFFERED: Broken blender. But ever once in awhile, something strange shows up. Like this, as was:

“I just destroyed my door to my room because I was so upset. It's been three years now that I've been divorced and I'm still very sad that my terrible financial habits back then that destroyed my marrieage. If someone has one laying around or extra or remodeling there house I would appreciate it as I have to replace it. It's an apartment I live in. I'm kind of a mess today, I'm very sad. I saved the doorknob, hinges screws. I measured it, it's 80 inches high and 31 and 3/4 inches wide. Thanks. I have a pickup truck for a couple of days, I can pick it up. I live in .....”

Birthday news!The child bride had a birthday on Sunday and we celebrated frugally.

We went for a walk in Golden Gate Park, which we hadn’t done in ages. The Museum of Natural History has been totally demolished, making way for the new one. The new improved DeYoung museum (a museum that I loved, torn down because of earthquake damage) is about ready to re-open. It looks something like a rusted battleship. I mean that in a good way.

We took in the Japanese Tea Garden, which is always a pleasant way to spend an hour, even though the ponds seemed a bit murky, and no Koi were apparent.

The real object of our pedestrian ramblings, however, was the Conservatory of Flowers, which my unspeakable wife had never seen. She was moved close to tears by the experience (NB: she is a gardener). (If you do not know the Conservatory of Flowers, go here: http://www.conservatoryofflowers.org/)

It is a beautiful Victorian greenhouse, epic in scope, filled with carnivorous plants and other delights. It is also humid and hot. In San Francisco’s rather drear climate, that is a plus.

Then we went to Amoeba (www.amoebamusic.com/), and purchased oodles (well, twenty or so) of used videos, and went home and watched them.

These videos included:THE RETURN OF DR. PHIBES.YOU ONLY LIVE TWICE (James Bond)THE ATTACK OF THE MUSHROOM PEOPLEOld Superman cartoons.

And much much more!

Throughout the experience, the child bride wore a silver tiara in her hair, subliminally inviting comments and worship from the homeless, hippies, skaters, and tourists we encountered on our little voyage, none of which was forthcoming. Still and all, it was a lovely day.

Walking through the park, we found a paperback book of German short stories, edited by Stephen Spender, which we promptly read. I especially enjoyed the stories by Heinrich von Kleist and Hugo von Hoffmansntahl.

Another surreal story, by an author whose name I forget right now, contained the phrase “authentic popular rage,” which appealed to both the wife and me. The book of short stories itself had been burned half-through by a cigarette. All in all, it was a wonderful day.

22 Comments:

The tiara is a fab idea! I saw a gallery in New Orleans that had a collection of crowns made by local artists. Some were funny, many were beautiful, and they all looked regal. (Really, isn't regality something we all strive for? Regalness? Regaliciousness?)

Hey, there ya go- have a party and make everyone bring a homemade crown for the birthday gal.

There's a wonderful store in Burlingamecalled "All That Glitters", but I think ofit as "Tiara Town". More differentand astonishing tiaras to be seenthrough a store window (with amazingseasonal theme decorations) than you'dever imagine.

If you read further, they charge for almost every item you give. You would be better off using groups like WITShttp://witsinc.org. groups like this only charge for monitors, tvs and appliances. Much less than most and its tax deductible. Fees too.

Thanks for the WITS recommendation for recycling tech stuff, but you are misinformed about Freecycle. It doesn't charge for anything. It's nothing but a giveaway or takeaway of items between members. At least that's the way it's done in San Francisco. Freecycle is just a message board.

There is a new recycling service called clearer. they have started in the wynberg area of Cape Town. They are really informative on what and how to recycle plus they are very reasonable in price. Best of luck to them!visit www.clearer.co.za for more info

Recycling is something we all need to consider these days. For example, I've recently sold my mobile phone to http://www.mobilephonerecycling.co.uk/, a phone recycling company. The good part is that you actually get paid for recycling your mobile phone.

The mobile phones will be sold for a very cheap price in Isolated areas or are sodl to manufacturers which can use all the parts for new devices.

I think it’s important that we become aware of our role to help save Mother Nature. Every one should be informed of the alarming state of our degrading environment and useful recycling tips should be followed.

That website sounds like a brilliant idea, a great form of recycling. You can get rid of your old stuff and it can go towards people that will appreciate it. It's quite amazing how there could be something that you no longer treasure and at the same time it could mean a lot more to somebody else.